Version control

You can configure each configuration item (CI) to have a version number that identifies a particular snapshot of the item’s state. Each time a change is made to an item – for example, each time a change that is related to the CI is completed – the version number automatically increments to indicate that the item has changed.

You can use two types of version control:

Automatic version control – the version number automatically increments if you update a configuration item. This is particularly useful if you import your CIs from an external source regularly, such as from a desktop management system. A new version is created only if changes have been made to a CI.

For more information about automatic version control, see Automatic version control.

Managed version control – you cannot directly modify version-controlled attributes on CIs that have managed version control enabled. Instead, you create a future version of the CI and when the change is approved, you make the future version into the current version. These changes in version can either be made directly from the CI window, or as part of a Change process.

For more information about managed version control, see Managed version control.